North Korean vice-foreign minister to attend UN General Assembly next week

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North Korea’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kim Son Gyong arrives to address the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, on Sept 29, 2025.

North Korea's Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kim Son Gyong arriving to address the 80th UN General Assembly in New York City on Sept 29, 2025.

PHOTO: REUTERS

SEOUL – Kim Son Gyong, North Korea’s vice-foreign minister, plans to attend a high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly set to begin in New York next week, Yonhap News Agency reported on Sept 18, citing a source at the international body.

Kim is set to meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and officials from countries friendly to North Korea, such as Cuba and Venezuela, the Yonhap report said.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The UN representative in North Korea did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Kim is set to attend the General Assembly’s general debate, which is set to take place from Sept 22 to 26, and also on Sept 28, the report said, adding that the Vice-Foreign Minister is planning to take the podium for a speech.

He had attended the 2025 General Assembly, during which he said North Korea will never give up its nuclear programme, describing it as “tantamount to demanding it to surrender sovereignty and right to existence”. REUTERS

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